Gas cutting apparatus



Aug. 26, 1941. F. sToNEBERG I GAS CUTTING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 19593 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 26, 1941..

F. STONE-:BERG

GAs CUTTING APPARATUS Filed June .24, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 26,19417.

Filed June 24, 1939 l F. STONEBERG GAS CUTTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet3 Ezuntor jed ionery .and

Patented Aug. 26, 1941 GAS CUTTING APPARATUS' Fred Stoneb'erg, Chicago,Ill., assignor to Gaso Equipment Co., a corporation of IllinoisApplication June 24, 1939, Serial No. 281,055

Claims.

This invention relates to gas cutting apparatus and more particularly tothe movable carriage type.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved gas cutting'apparatus having novel change speed mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a gas cutting devicehaving new and improved means for supporting the torch holding mechanismtogether with cushioning means for supporting the operating mechanism.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedmeans for manually operating ythe change speed mechanism of theapparatus.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedmeans for causing a smooth, even operation of the transmissionmechanism.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved means for obtaining ne adjustments for controlling the speed ofthe carriage.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedcas gutting apparatus that is simple in construction, easily assembled,and one in which the operating'mechanism is readily accessible forreplacement and for repairs.

Other andfurther objects and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view ofthe device,with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in top plan;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal verticalsecton of the forward portion of thedevice;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through a portion of the apparatusshowing the change speed cam device;

Fig. 6 is a section on theline 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig, 8 shows the developed cam path shown more or less diagrammatically.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 9 designates agas cutting apparatus,

including a carriage III, which comprises what may be termed a bottomplate member or chassis frame II, see Figs. 4 and 6, and on which ismounted a hollow body portion, housing or casing I2. 'The plate II isprovided with upstand- .ing lugs I3 around its periphery to which thethe sides thereof with upstanding brackets or lug's I5 .and I6 withinwhich is journaled the axle I1, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of thedrawings. The axle I1 has the wheels I8 rigidly con'- nected thereto andthese Wheels are within the casing or body portion I2, and extend downthrough the openings or notches I9 in the plate or, chassis frame II forengaging a surface for propelling the apparatus in the-usual manner.

The plate or chassis frame II is in two parts, the rear portion 2|,` seeFig. Zbeing detachably connected to the sides of the body portion orshell I2 as by means of the screws 23which extend through the casingandare threaded into openings in lugs 22 on the plate section 2 I, Fig.2. By removing the plate 2I, access may be had to the wiring, as willpresently appear.

Mounted on the rear end o'f the body portion or casing I2, at each sidethereof, is a caster 24. The caster 24 is provided with a shank 25 whichis pivotally connected to a lug or projection 25 on the rear portion ofthe casing I2 as by means of the bolt 21.

Suitable mechanism is provided for propelling the carriage at variablespeeds, as will now be described. A gear casing or box 28 is carried bythe plate II and is provided for housing the transmission and changespeed mechanism. Rigidly mounted on the rear wall 29 of this gear casing28 is a bracket 3I. The bracket 3I is detachably secured to a boss 32 onan upward extension on the wall 29 and is rigidly secured to a motormounting 33 at its free end. The motor mounting 33 carries a motor 34and reducing gear 35 of any well known construction. Sincethe motor 34and the reducing gear 35 are of the usual or any well knownconstruction, it is not thought necessary to show and describe the samein detail.

'I'he motor is supplied with an electric current, the circuit of whichis opened and closed by a switch 30 extending to the upper side of thebody II. A switch for reversing the motor is shown at 40 in Fig. 1.

The reducing gear 35 operates a power shaft 36 having a flat end portionwhich engages in a corresponding recess in a stub shaft 31 which isjournaled in the rear wall 29 of the gear casing 28. The inner orforward end of the stub shaft 31 is provided with a bevel gear 38, Fig.3, which in turn meshes with a bevel gear 39 rigidly mounted ona'countersnart u' which is journaled in the end walls of the gear casing28 and ex 45, Figs'. 3 and 4, is journaled in the forward wall of thegear box 28 and has keyed to its lower end a master or crown gear 46which has inner and outer concentric rows of teeth 41 and248,respectively, on its rear side and similar inner and outer Y concentricrows of teeth 49 and 5I on its forward side. The forward end of thedriven shaft 45 is provided with a worm 50 which engages a correspondingwormV gear 52 loosely mounted on the axle I1 at the forward end of thecarriage. The

. gear 52 is held between two collars 53 and 54 keyed to the axle I1.

A suitable clutch 55, having clutch pins or ber and having a shaft 62provided with a handle.

63 above the casing I2 for moving the clutch against the compression ofthe spring 58 for releasing the worm gear when it is desired.'

The inner end of the shaft 44 is provided with a pinion or spur gear 64which is adapted to engage the outer row of gear teeth 5| when the gear64 is moved inwardly to obtain one speed or to engage the inner row 49for obtaining a higher speed, as will presently be described.

'Ihe countershaft 4I has slidably mounted thereon a pinion or spur gear65 which is slidably mounted on an intermediate portion of the shaft 4Iand is adapted to be slid inwardly into mesh with the outer rowof lgearteeth 48 on the master or crown gear 46 or into mesh with the inner rowof gear teeth 41 on the gear 46 for obtaining a still higher speed.

Suitable means are provided for shifting the gears 64 and 65 forobtaining the four different speeds of which the change speed mechanismis capable. In the form of the construction selected to illustrate oneembodiment ofthe invention, the shifting mechanism is so mounted that itmay be operated by the rotation of a single shifting shaft or member inone direction for obtaining progressively higher or lower speeds,depending on which direction it is turned. As shown, the shaft 44, seeFig. '1, has its outer end provided with a groove 66 which is adapted tobeengaged by a shifting fork 61 on the lower end of the bell crank 68pivoted to a lug 69 on the gear box, as clearly shown in Fig. '1. rEheupper end of the bell crank 68 is provided with a shifting pin 1I whichis adapted to engage a camway, groove or passage 14 formed in the cammember 13. The camway 1`4 is provided with a dwell 84, Figs. '1 and 8.which extends a greater distance than 180 about the cam and then has anincline 15 which, when the cam is turned, causes the pin 1I to travel upthe incline 15 thereby forcing the shaft 44 inwardly causing the pinionor spur gear 64 to engage the outer row of teeth 5IA on the master orcrown gear 46.

On turning the cam still further in the same direction, it will passalong a dwell 16 which holds the gears 5I and 64, Figs 3 and 1, in meshfor the lowest speed and then up an incline 11 which will force theshaft 44 inwardly to cause the gear 64 to engage the teeth 49 on theinner row of the crown gear for obtaining second speed.

Suitable means are also provided for sliding the pinion or spur gear 65along the shaft for causing the teeth thereof to engage first the teeth.48 and then the teeth 41, Fig. 3. of the master crown gear. This isaccomplished by the mech' anism shown in Fis. 6 which is similar to thatalready described. In this'constructlon, the gear 65 is provided with anextended hub portion having a groove 18 which is adapted to be engagedby a yoke 19 carried by a shifting bar 8I which in turn is adapted to beoperated by a bell crank 82. The bell crank 82 has its upper endprovided with a pin 83, Figs'. 5 and 6, which is adapted to engage inthe groove 14 in a lmanner already described with reference to the pin1I.

4The groove 14 of the cam is provided with the dwell 84 which, asmentioned above, is greater than 180 so that both pins 1I and 83 maysimultaneously occupy the dwell or horizontal porplained above.

tion of the groove so as to hold the change speed mechanism `in neutral.The groove 14, after forming the incline 11 and a short dwell 10, dropsdown at a sharp angle to the dwell 84, as shown at 80, Fig. 8. 'I'he cam13 is rotatably mounted on a headed stud 60 seated in a counterbore inthe cam and threaded into box 28, Fig. 6. 'I'he cam is rotated by -ashaft 85 extending through; the top wall of the casing I2 and havingmounted thereon a handle, button or knob 86 by which the same may beturned for shifting the change speed mechanism.

In the operation of the device, the handle, button or knob 66 is turnedright-handed which, when the'parts are in the position shown in Fig. '1,will first move the teeth of the gear 64 into mesh with the teeth 46 ofthe crown gear for obtaining lowest or fourth speed. The drive is thenfrom the motor through the power shaft 36, Fig. 3, stub shaft 31, gears38, 39, shaft 4I and the reducing 'gears 42; 43, shaft 44, gear 64 andthe outer teeth 6I of the forward side of the crown gear, shaft 45, worm59, worm gear 52, and axle I1 for propelling the wheels I8. Furthermovement of the knob 86, in the same direction. will cause the gear 64to engage the inner teeth 49 of the crown gear on the forward side asex- The drive then will be in the same manner as describedvabove butsince there are less teeth'in the row 49 than in the row 5I, the speedwill be somewhat higher thereby obtaining third speed.

On turning the knob still further, the pin 1I -Will pass down' theincline 80 into the dwell 84 which will cause the bell crank 68 towithdraw the gear 64 to the position shown in Fig.. '1. The parts arethen again in neutral position.

On turning the button still further. to the right, the pin 83 on thebell crank 82 will engage first the incline 15, then the incline 11 forshiftpossible by the nism. s

When the change speed mechanism is at either one of these speeds,intermediate speeds between that one and the next speed obtainable bythe gear mechanism may be obtained by operating the rheostat 81 forchanging the speed of the motor. By means of these arrangements,extreme1y-small variations in speed may be obtained by manipulating theknob 86 and the rheostat 81.

The knob 86 may be provided with an indicator operating over a scale 88for indicating the different speeds, as shown in Fig. 1. Likewise, theclutch handle 63 may be provided with a pointer for indicating the offand on position of the clutch. The motor 34 is of the reversible changespeed type and is adapted to be controlled by a suitable rheostat 81having the knob 09 turning over a plurality of scales 9| for indicatingthe speed ofthe carriage. There are four scales corresponding to thefour different` speeds that may be obtained by the mechanical changespeed mechanism and these scales are so calibrated that they willindicate the speed of the carriage for any position of the change speedmechanism and the adjustment of the rheostat.

Appropriate mechanism is provided for supporting the gas cutting nozzle.As shown, the plate is provided with upstanding apertured lugs orprojections 92 and 93 at opposite sides of the carriage. These lugs arepreferably, though not necessarily, integral with the plate I I and theopenings on one side are in axial alignment with the openings of thecorresponding lugs or sleeves on the other side. Slidably mounted in theopenings of the lugs'92 and 93 is a pair oi' supporting bars 94 and 95.

The bar 94 has provided on one edge thereof, a rack 96 which is adaptedto be engaged by a pinion 91 on the lower end of a shaft 98, Fig. 1, theupper end of which is provided with a wheel use of the change speedmechaor handle 99 foi-,operating .the shaft for moving the torchsupporting bars 93, 96 transversely of the carriage. The wheel or handlemember 99 is 4above the casing I2 of the carriage so that it is dricalend |01 of a torch supporting standard |08.

The standard |08 is adapted to be turned or rotated and is held inangular adjustment by a set screw |09 which engages the shank or reducedportion |01 of the standard. The upper end of the standard |08 isprovided with a vertical slot in which is slidably and rotatably mountedthe threaded shank III of a holding bracket II2. The bracket H2 isadapted to be held in any angular or vertical adjustment on, thestandard by a nut I I3. The bracket I|2 is provided with a transverseopening forv receiving the outer end of a torch supporting arm ||4, theopposite end of which has rigidly attached thereto a sleeve I I5 throughwhich a torch holder ||6 is adapted to slide. The torch holder I I6 isprovided with a rack ||1 which is .adapted to Ibe engaged by a pinion||8 mounted on a shaft I|9 extending pinion ||8 is rigidly mounted onthe shaft I'I9 and is adapted to engage the rack ||1 which extendsoutwardly through a slot |23 in the sleeve I I5. The hand Wheel |24 ismounted on the outer end of the shaft I|9 for rotating the pinion forraising and lowering the torch holder IIB. The torch holder ||6 isadapted to have attached thereto, at its lower end, a torch nozzle |25which is of the usual or any well known construction.

It will thus be seen that the torch may be adjusted verticallyV orthrough various angles in different planes. For instance, the torch maybe swung in a horizontal plane by rotating the standard |08, firstloosening the set screw |09. The torch may be raised or lowered by theuse of the slot and bracket ||2 and may also be rotated in a verticalplane longitudinally of the vehicle by loosening the nut II 3 andturning the bracket I I 2 along with the torch about the reduced portionas an axis. The torch supporting arm I|4 is rotatably mounted in thebracket I2 and may be held in adjusted position by a set screw |26. Byloosening the set screw |26, the torch may be swung in a vertical planetransverselyof the carriage. In addition to these movements, the torchmay be raised and lowered by the hand wheel |24 or it may be movedtoward or away from the carriage by turning the hand wheel 99, seeFig. 1. If desired, the standard |08, together with the torch supportingarm and torch, may be moved to the opposite side of the carriage andattached to the head |03 by inserting the reduced portion ofthe standardin the opening |05 and securing the same in position by the set screw|09 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

It is desirable 'that the vibration of the torch supporting mechanism bereduced.to a minimum during the operation of the device. In order toaccomplish this result, the slide rods 94 and 95 are mounted as low aspossible on the carriage and the major portion of the operatingmechanism is resiliently supported from ythe carriage. As shown, thebrackets for supporting the slide rods 94 and 95 are mounted directly onthe plate beneath the center of gravity of the carriage and the gearcase or box 28, which contains theH change speed mechanism and a greaterportion of the transmission and to which the motor 34 is rigidlyconnected and supported, is resiliently mounted on this same plate II.As shown, this is accomplished by mounting the gear box or across arecess I 2| formed in the arm |I4. The 75 casing 28 on rubber feet orblocks |21 which are held in position by suitable screws or the like|28. f

It will thus be seen that in the operation-of the device, the crown gear46, being heavy or` massive, will function as a flywheel for the/motorand transmission and the rubber blocks |21 will reduce to a minimum 'thevibration of the motor and transmission to the carriage. The slide rods94 and 95, being mounted on the chassis frame of plate lI I, below thecenter of gravity of the carriage, with no connection to the motor ortransmission, except indirectly through the rub mission and change speeddevice for inspectiom replacement or repairs. y

It is thought from the foregoing, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, that the construction and operation of my devicewill be apparent to those skilled in the art and that changes in size,shape, proportion and detail may be made without affecting the spiritand scope of the appended claims. j

I claim as my invention:

l. In a gas cutting apparatus, a carriage, means including change speedmechanism for propelling said carriage, said mechanism comprising adriven shaft, a heavy gear on said shaft, a plurality of driving shafts,intermeshing gears on said shafts, and gears on certain of said shaftsmovable, one at a time, into and out of mesh with said heavy gear forpropelling said carriage at different speeds, said heavy gear, duringits operation, functioning as a flywheel for balancing the motor andacquiring smoothness of operation of the propelling mechanism. K

2. In a gas cutting apparatus, a carriage, change speed mechanism foroperating said carriage, a reversible, variable speed motor for oper- 'iating said mechanism, said change speed mechanism comprising a massivecrown gear having 'a plurality of concentric rows of gear teeth on eachside thereof, a spur gear on each side of said crown gear, means formoving each spur gear into mesh with any one row of concentric teeth onthe side of the crown gear adjacent said spur gear, and means forpreventing the vmeshing of both of said spur gears at the same time withthe teeth of said crown gear.

3. In a gas cutting apparatus, a carriage, a motor mounted on saidcarriage, means including a driven shaft for propelling said carriage,

va motor driven change speed mechanism for speeds, means for operatingsaid pinions fromv said motor, means for preventing simultaneous carriedby said gear casing within said housing, transmission and change speedmechanism mounted in said gear casing and operatively connected to saidmotor for operating said carriage at different speeds', said mechanismcomprising a massive gear functioning as a flywheel, rubber blockssupporting said gear casing from said plate, a gas cutting torch, andmeans rigidly connected to said plate in close proximity to the samesupporting said torch below th'e center of gravity of said carriage.

6. In a gas cutting apparatus, a carriage, means bracket, and a torchholder slidably mounted meshing of both of said pinions with said gear,

Ya torch from said slide outwardly of said carriage. v

5. In a gas cutting apparatus, a carriage hav- .ing a chassis plate, awheeled axle supporting one -end of said plate, means, including wheels,

supporting` the opposite end of said plate, a housing detachably mountedon said plate, a gear casing mounted on said plate within said housing,a motor removably connected to and in said bracket.

7. In a gas cutting apparatus, a carriage comprising a hollow body, awheeled axle for supporting the forward end of said body, caster meansfor supporting the rear end of said body portion, a torch, means forsupporting said torch on said carriage, a motor, change speed mechanismfor propelling said axle from said motor, said mechanism comprising amassive crown gear having two concentric rows of gear teeth on eachside, slidable gears adapted to mesh one only at a time with said rowsof teeth in a predetermined order, cam means for shifting said slidablegears, and a single knob for rotating said cam means for changing thegear ratio of said mechanism.

8. In a gas cutting apparatus, a carriage, means including a motor forpropelling said carriage, said means comprising a' change speedmechanism, a box for housing said mechanism, means for mounting saidmotor on said box, rubber blocks for supporting said box on saidcarriage, said mechanism comprising a massive gear, a torch, means foradiustably supporting the torch on the carriage, said/last named meanscomprising a slide member slidable transversely of the carriage in ahorizontal plane below the center of gravity of said carriage, astandard rotatable about a vertical axis mounted on the outer end ofsaid slide, a torch supporting arm, means slidable vertically on saidstandard for supporting said arm, said means holding said arms inadjusted position angularly about a horizontal axis, and means includinga pivot and a rack and pinion for raising and lowering said torch and tomove said torch about ahorizontal pivot extending transversely to saidarm, said massive gear vfunctioning as a ywheel for rendering themovement of said motor and mechanism smooth and even, whereby said torchwill be moved along with said carriage with a minimum of vibration.

9. In a gas cutting apparatus, a carriage, means for propelling thesame, a torch, means for adjustably supporting the same on saidcarriage, said last-named means comprising a slide slidably mounted onthe lower portion of said carriage, a torch, means for adjustablymounting said torch on said carriage, said means comprising a standardmounted on said slide and rotatable about a vertical axis, a bracketrotatable about a vertical axis, a bracket rotatable about a horizontalaxis, a torch holder arm carried by said bracket and rotatable about ahorizontal axis at a right angle to the rotating axis of said bracket, atorch holder carried by said arm, means for slidably adjusting saidholder on said arm, and means extending to the upper surface of saidcarriage for slidably adjusting said slide transversely across saidcarriage.

10. In a gas cutting apparatus, a carriage comprising a Wheeled axle, ahollow body, a chassis plate supported at its front end on said axle anddetachably connected to said body, a pair of casters, means forsupporting the rear ends of said body and plate by said casters, amotor, transmission and change speed mechanism between said motor andaxle for propelling the carriage, a box for containing said change speedmechanism, a slide slidably mounted on said plate, torch adjusting andsupporting means carried by said plate, a torch carried by saidlastnamed means, means for rigidly mounting said motor on said box, saidmechanism comprising a massive gear functioning as a flywheel, andrubber means for supporting said box from said plate whereby a minimumof vibration will be communicated to said torch from said motor andmechanism.

FRED STONEBEBG.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,255,5h0. 'l August 26, 19m.

FREDSTONEBERG.

lt -is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered potent recmiring correction as follows: Page li,second column, lines 75 and T14., cllim '9, strike out the words andcomma "a bracket rotatable about avertical axis,"; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and. sealed this 7th day of october, A. D. 19in.

Henry van .A rmdzml'ea,A

(Seal) Acting .Commissioner of Patents.

